Geneva Speicher

She was born April 30, 1926 in Goshen, to Adam and Edith Eve (Klingaman) Bickel.

On October 19, 1946 she married Vernon “Sam” Speicher at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fish Lake. Rev. Walter Wick officiated. They were married for 65 years before Vernon passed away Nov. 12, 2011.

Surviving are a son Rodney Joe (Jane) Speicher, Millersburg; a daughter, Suzanne (Cliff) Thompson, Topeka; three granddaughters, Jan (Matt) Baker, and Heather (Jeff) Johnson, both of Goshen and Erin Eve (Tobey) Schwartz, Topeka; four great-grandsons, Ethan, Evan, Logan and Cooper; a brother, Ellsworth Bickel, Goshen; and two very special cousins, Ramona Prough and Barbara Leedy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Charles, Harold, Forest, and John; and two sisters Gladys and Oretha.

Geneva was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Millersburg. She served on the Ladies Aid Committee, and was a member of the American Legion Post 484 Auxiliary, and Goshen VFW.

She was a professional seamstress, doing private sewing out of her home. Geneva worked on the Millersburg Election Board for many years, and at Ivers Lee factory in Shipshewana. She loved playing Rummikub and Bingo, gardening, canning, quilting, and spending time with her granddaughters. She had a passion for collecting butterfly nostalgia.

Funeral services were held Saturday, May 17, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home with Reverend Chris Howell of Zion Community Church, Millersburg, officiating.

Burial will follow at Eden Cemetery, Topeka.

Geneva never wanted picked flowers in her house, so in lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fish Lake, or the Goshen VFW Post 985.

Online condolences may be shared with family at www. yoderculpfuneralhome.com.